MRI for Patients with Pacemakers
and Defibrillators
Yes — Most Patients with Pacemakers Can Have an MRI
For years, patients with pacemakers and implanted defibrillators (ICDs) were told they could never have an MRI. While that was once true, advances in cardiac device technology and specialized MRI safety protocols have changed that.
Today, most patients with MRI-conditional pacemakers and many patients with other implanted cardiac rhythm devices can safely undergo an MRI when the examination is performed by an experienced team using the proper safety procedures.
At Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology, we have developed one of the region's most experienced outpatient MRI programs for patients with pacemakers and defibrillators. Our dedicated team works closely with your cardiologist before, during, and after your exam to ensure your MRI is performed safely and efficiently.
Whether your doctor has ordered a Brain MRI, Spine MRI, Shoulder MRI, Knee MRI, Hip MRI, Foot MRI, Ankle MRI, or another MRI examination, our team will determine whether your implanted device can be safely managed for the study.
Why Choose Zwanger-Pesiri?
Zwanger-Pesiri has performed more MRI examinations for patients with pacemakers than any other hospital or imaging practice in the New York metropolitan area. Our specialized program is designed to make the process simple, safe, and convenient.
Our program offers:
- Dedicated specialists experienced in MRI safety for pacemakers and defibrillators
- Coordination with your cardiologist before your appointment
- Complete review of your implanted device to determine MRI eligibility
- On-site device programming before and after your MRI
- Continuous monitoring throughout your examination
- Convenient outpatient appointments that help you avoid lengthy hospital visits
- Wide Bore MRI systems for a more comfortable experience
Our goal is to help patients receive the MRI they need without unnecessary delays or hospital stays.
Speedy Service
Avoid lengthy hospital visits and crowded waiting rooms
Safer Experience
Specialized MRI Safety Division for expert programming
Superior Comfort
Stress-free experience in the comfort of an outpatient centerHow the Process Works
Before your MRI, our team works directly with your cardiologist to review your implanted device and confirm that it can be safely scanned.
On the day of your appointment:
- Your pacemaker or defibrillator is evaluated and programmed into the appropriate MRI mode.
- You are continuously monitored throughout your MRI examination.
- After the scan, your device is reprogrammed to its original settings and checked to ensure it is functioning properly.
Every step follows established safety protocols and is performed by experienced professionals.
Safety Is Our Highest Priority
Although many modern pacemakers and implantable defibrillators are designed to be MRI compatible, every patient and every device must be individually evaluated before an MRI is performed.
Our specialized MRI Safety Team carefully reviews:
- Your pacemaker or defibrillator model
- Your implanted leads
- Manufacturer recommendations
- Your medical history
- Your cardiologist's recommendations
This comprehensive evaluation helps ensure that every MRI is performed as safely as possible.
Comfortable Outpatient MRI Care
Unlike many patients who must travel to a hospital for specialized MRI examinations, Zwanger-Pesiri offers this service in a comfortable outpatient setting.
Patients benefit from:
- Faster scheduling
- Shorter wait times
- Comfortable Wide Bore MRI scanners
- Experienced MRI technologists
- A dedicated cardiac device team
- Coordination between your cardiologist and our imaging specialists
Our goal is to provide a stress-free experience while delivering the highest level of patient safety.
We Work With Leading Cardiac
Device Manufacturers
Our experienced programming specialists routinely work with implanted cardiac rhythm devices from leading manufacturers, including:
- Medtronic
- Abbott/St. Jude Medical
- Boston Scientific
- Biotronik
Our team remains up to date with current manufacturer guidelines and MRI safety protocols to help ensure the safest possible experience for every patient.
Schedule Your MRI with a Pacemaker
If you have a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator and have been told you need an MRI, don't assume you cannot have the exam. Our specialists can review your device, coordinate with your cardiologist, and determine whether your MRI can be performed safely.
Pacemaker MRI appointments are currently available at our Five Towns, Plainview, and Sayville locations.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 631-444-5544, Ext. 3088.
- Medtronic
- Abbott/St. Jude Medical
- Boston Scientific
- Biotronik
Our team remains up to date with current manufacturer guidelines and MRI safety protocols to help ensure the safest possible experience for every patient.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Pacemaker MRI at Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology is carefully coordinated to ensure both your safety and the highest quality diagnostic imaging. Before your appointment, our specialized MRI Safety Division works closely with your cardiologist or electrophysiologist to review your medical history, confirm that your pacemaker or implanted cardiac device is appropriate for MRI, and develop a personalized imaging plan. This collaborative approach helps ensure every aspect of your exam is performed according to the highest safety standards.
On the day of your exam, our highly trained team performs a thorough evaluation of your pacemaker before the MRI begins. Specialists who are experts in cardiac implantable electronic devices safely program your pacemaker or defibrillator into the appropriate MRI mode based on your physician's recommendations. Throughout the examination, your heart rhythm and overall condition are closely monitored by experienced medical professionals, allowing you to undergo your MRI with confidence and peace of mind.
After the MRI scan is complete, your pacemaker is immediately reprogrammed to its original settings and thoroughly tested to confirm it is functioning properly before you leave. Our specialized MRI Safety Division remains in close communication with your cardiologist throughout the process, ensuring seamless coordination of care. With advanced MRI technology, experienced specialists, and a dedicated focus on patient safety, Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology makes it possible for many patients with pacemakers and other implanted cardiac devices to safely benefit from the diagnostic power of MRI.
Preparing for a specialized Pacemaker MRI at Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology begins well before your appointment. Our dedicated MRI Safety Division coordinates with your cardiologist or electrophysiologist to obtain important information about your pacemaker or implanted cardiac device, ensuring it is appropriate for MRI and that all necessary safety protocols are in place before your exam.
Prior to your scan, patients may be asked to provide details about their cardiac device and current medications. On the day of the exam, our specialized team will perform a comprehensive evaluation of your pacemaker, verify your device settings, and safely program it into MRI mode before imaging begins. This careful preparation helps ensure your MRI is performed safely and efficiently.
To help make your visit as smooth as possible, we recommend arriving a little early for your appointment, wearing comfortable clothing without metal fasteners whenever possible, and following any additional instructions provided by our scheduling team. Our experienced staff will guide you through every step of the process, answer your questions, and work closely with your cardiologist to provide a safe, comfortable, and seamless MRI experience.
Additional prep for IV contrast
If you have impaired kidney function, are diabetic or are 60 years of age or older, we will perform an i-STAT creatinine level at the time of your exam to assess your kidney function. It is important to inform us if you are taking the medication hydroxyurea when making your appointment. Keep hydrated before and after your exam.